Apparatus for transferring and grouping partition strips



Jan. 13, 1953 J. E. WILSKE ETAL 2, 5,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 30, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 13, 1953 J. E. WILSKE HAL 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 50, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 UTEZWJL SXE dRBEAmzT FANCORMJL' Jan. 13, 1953 J. E. WILSKE ETAL 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 W IIQIIIIA-IIIIIIII srwcwtow (IE. 14/71. SXE UTPBENOII IANcoxnzex Jan. 13, 1953 .1. E. WILSKE ETAL 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm v18; W11. SKE IIBBENoIT EAMIMKMEK Jan 13, 953 J. E. WILSKE ETAL 7 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUFING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 13, 1953 J. E. WILSKE ETAL APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 f 5 III Ll ll IIII l llll Jan. 113, 1953 E. WILSKE ET AL 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRAKSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed NOV. 50, 1948 8 Sheet sSheet 7 elk/MW Jan. 13, 953 J. E. wlLsKE ET AL 2,625,083

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Filed Nov. 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 23 v fz .Zi J60 F/L TER COMPRESSED A F Patented Jan. 13, 1953 APPARATUS FOR TRAN SFERRING AND GROUPING PARTITION STRIPS Julius E. Wilske, Joseph P. Benoit, and Francis A. McCormick, Alton, Ill., assignors to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application November 30, 1948, Serial No. 62,744

13 Claims.

Our invention relates to apparatus for use with and forming a part of mechanism for assembling strips of paperboard or the like to form partitions such as are in general use for dividing containers into individual cells or compartments.

One method in use for assembling such strips consists in arranging a group of longitudinal strips in parallel spaced relation on a travelling conveyor and carrying them forward on the conveyor to an assembling station where transverse strips are assembled with the longitudinal strips. An object of the present invention is to provide means for feeding the longitudinal strips from a stack and placing them on the conveyor in groups, with the strips on edge and extending lengthwise of the conveyor in parallel spaced relatation.

In the patent to McLaughlin et al., 2,353,842, July 18, 1944, Machine for Assembling Partitions, there is disclosed a machine comprising a horizontally travelling conveyor on which groups of longitudinal partition strips are placed and fed forward to assembling mechanism for assembling the groups with transverse partition strips. The longitudinal strips are placed on the conveyor by hand.

An object of the present invention is to provide automatic feeding mechanism for use with a machine such as shown in said patent, for automatically feeding the longitudinal strips to the conveyor and positioning them for being fed to the assembling mechanism, thereby rendering the entire set of assembling operations fully automatic. I

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional plan view, with portions broken away, of an apparatus embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, with portions broken away, as viewed from the right-hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at the line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional detail view of a stripholding clip.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary part sectional elevation on a comparatively large scale showing stripper mechanism for ejecting groups of strips from the holding clips.

Fig. 6 is a section at the line iion Fig. 5. Fig.7 is a detail in section showing means ifor re ning er d bq li j a st i per bar.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of pawl and ratchet mechanism for feeding the clip conveyors.

Fig. 9 is a part sectional elevational view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a section at the line llli on Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary part sectional view showing hand-operated means for adjusting a clip-carrying conveyor transversely and also showing portions of the gearing for adjusting the clip-carrying conveyor up and down.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional elevations at the lines I 2-42 and l3-I3 respectively on Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary part sectional plan view showing various details of the apparatus, including valves controlling the up and down movements of the stripper mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of the same.

' Fig. 16 is a digrammatic view of the system of fluid-operated motors and their control mechanism, some of the valves and motor cylinders being shown in section.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic plan view or" the trip valve mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a horizontally disposed endless conveyor 20 comprises conveyor chains 2| mounted to run on the stationary frame 22 of the conveyor. The chains are connected by transverse flight bars 23 which are spaced at regular intervals lengthwise of the conveyor and serve to advance the sets of partition strips while the latter are supported on an underlying stationary sheet metal support Ill. The conveyor may be driven continuously by an electric motor 24 (Fig. 2) having driving connection with the conveyor through gearing including the drive chain 25, such driving connection being made in a well-known manner as shown for example in the above identified patent to McLaughlin et al.

The motor 24 is supported on a platform 2'! mounted in a frame base 28. The framework includes upright corner posts 29 connected at their upper ends by horizontal frame members 3| and 32 extending respectively transversely and longitudinally of the conveyor 28.

Mounted at one side of the conveyor 26 is a frame 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) providing a support for a stack at of partition strips 35. This stack is supported directly on a series of parallel endless belts 36 which run on pulleys 3?, the belts in turn being supported on a plate 38. The forward end of the stack bears against a stationary frame 39. The strips 35, consisting of paperboard, cardboard, or the like, are rectangular in form and are herein referred to as longitudinal strips, as they are adapted to be assembled with transverse or cross partition strips as fully set forth in the above mentioned patent to McLaughlin at al. The strips are provided with the usual slots 34 (Fig. 2) for receiving the cross strips.

The strips are fed upward. one by one, from the forward end of the stack into holding clips mounted on a pair of endless chain carriers 4| which are driven intermittently step by step to bring the clips 40 in succession into a strip-receiving position directly above the forward end of the stack 34. The strips 35 are transferred from the stack to the clips 40 by a piston motor 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) including a piston rod 43 to which is attached a slide block 44 slideable up and down in stationary guideways 45 in the frame 39. Attached to the slide block is a knocker bar 46 or blade which when in its lowered position, is directly beneath the foremost strip 35 of the stack 34.

When the motor piston is moved upward, the blade 46 carries the strip upward into the holding clip 40 thereabove. Guide plates 41 provide a backing for the strip as it moves upward, said guide plates being adjustably mounted on a plate 48 overlying the strips 35. Set screws 49 hold the plates 41 in their adjusted positions. The plate 48 is attached to or forms a part of the frame 39 which is adjustable up and down as hereinafter described to accommodate strips 35 of difierent vertical dimensions. A cushioning block 43 of rubber or the like, is attached to the frame 39 in the path of the piston rod. As the strips 35 are removed one by one from the forward end of the stack, the remaining strips are moved forward by a plate 5| to which aforward pull is applied by a weight 56 and cable 52 (Figs.

2 and 3) trained over pulleys 53, 54, 55. A uniform pressure is thereby maintained against the stationary frame 39.

Each of the pair of chains 4| which carry the clips 40, is trained ,over a driving sprocket wheel 51 and a driven sprocket wheel 58 mounted in a frame 59. Each of the frames 59 has secured thereto a pair of tubular shafts 60 and 6| (Fig. 1). The shafts 60 are keyed directly to the frames 59. The shafts 6| are attached to brackets 62 and 62' mounted on the frames 59. Each pair of shafts 60 and GI is mounted for lengthwise adjusting movement in a frame 34, extending transversely of the conveyor 20, said shafts thereby serving as means for adjustably mounting the clip-carrying conveyor frames 59 on the frames 64. The .frames 64 are mounted for up and down movement on the posts 29 as hereinafter described.

Adjusting mechanisms individual to the frames 59 carrying the holding clips, are provided for individually adjusting the frames lengthwise of the conveyor 20 to position. the clips for partition strips of different lengths. Each such adjusting mechanism includes a hand wheel 66 (Figs. 1 and 11) keyed to one of a pair of shafts 6| journaled in the frame 64, the shafts being formed with pinions 68 which run in mesh with rack teeth 69 formed on the shafts 60 and 6|. An endless chain 'II is trained over sprocket wheels on the shafts 61 so that rotation of the hand wheel 66 operates through the racks and pinions to adjust the frame 59 lengthwise of the conveyor 20.

The frames 64 which carry the clip conveyor frames 69, are adjustable up and down as before noted. The adjusting mechanism for this purpose is as follows:

A hand crank 15 (Figs. 1, 3; and 15) is attached to a shaft 16 journaled in bearing brackets I4 on the frames 64. Worms II on said shaft run in mesh with worm gears I8 on shafts I9 journaled in the frames 64. Each shaft I9 is formed at its opposite ends with pinions and BI respectively, said pinions running in mesh with rack teeth 82 formed on the posts 29. It will be seen that rotation of the hand crank I5 will operate through the gearing just described to lift or lower the frames 64 for adjusting the height of the clip conveyors to correspond to the vertical dimensions of the partition strips 35.

Referring to Fig. 3, the level of the upper edges of the strips 35 in the stack 34 is just below the level of the lower edges of the strips which have been transferred to the conveyor clips. It will be seen that in order to maintain this relation of parts when partition strips of a different vertical dimension are to be used, it is necessary to adjust the frame 39 up'or down a distance equal to the change in the vertical height of the clips. and also necessary to adjust the frames 54 up or down double such distance. For example, for strips 35, two inches shorter as measured vertically, it would be necessary to lower the frame 39, two inches and the frames 64, four inches. The means for effecting this relative adjustment is as follows:

The frame 39 is suspended from the frames 64 by a pair of vertical posts or hangers 84 (Figs. 1. 3, l1, 13) attached .at their lower ends to the frame 39 and formed with rack teeth 85 in mesh with gear wheels 85. The gear wheels 86 are mounted on and keyed to tubular shafts 81 mounted for rotation on the shaft I9. Each of the shafts 8'1 also has keyed thereto a gear wheel 88 driven from the shaft I9, through a train of gearing including a pinion 89 formed on the shaft 79 and gears 9| and 92 on a stub shaft 93 journaled in a bracket 94 on the frame 64. The ears 9|, v92 are in mesh respectively with the gears 89 and 88. The gears are so proportioned and. arranged that when the shafts I9 are rotated for adjusting the frames 64 up or down, the frame 39 will be adjusted relative to the frame 64, but in the opposite direction and through onl half the vertical distance.

The mechanism for intermittently driving the clip carriers and advancing the clips 40 step by step will now be described.

The driving sprocket wheels 51 (Fig. 1) for the clip conveyor chains 4|, are mounted on a drive shaft 96 which is formed with longitudinal ribs to maintain a driving connection between the shaft and sprocket wheels while permitting adjustment of the clip conveyor frames lengthwise of the shaft. The shaft 96 is rotated step by step by pawl and ratchet mechanism as shown in Figs. 8 to 10. Such mechanism is power driven by an air-operated piston motor 91 carried on a bracket I00 on one of the frames 64. The motor piston rod 93 is connected through a slide block 99 and a link I 9| to a rock arm I02 journaled on the hub of a ratchet wheel I04 on the shaft 96. A pawl I93 pivoted to the rock arm I02, drives the ratchet wheel I94. Each forward movement of the driving pawl I03 advances the clip-carrier chains 4| a distance equal to the spacing of the partition strips 35 thereon. A locking dog I05 is advanced by a coil spring I08 to a locking position as the driving pawl completes its forward movement.

The locking dog is retracted by means of a cam I9? attached thereto and a cam follower roll I03 on the rock arm I02.

The construction of the clips 40 is shown in Fig. 4. Each clip comprises a pair of fiat clamping blades III! and III between which the strips 35 are held. The blade III is carried on a pair of links I I2 pivoted at H3 to an arm H4. The arm H4 and blade III] are riveted at H5 to the chain 4|. The lower end portions II6 of the blades are flared for guiding the strips 35 as they are moved upward into the clip. A coil spring I I! applies a clamping pressure to the blade III.

Referring to Fig. 3, stationary guides I are positioned over the conveyor 29 and are spaced to receive the strips 35 when the latter are ejected from the clips 40 as presently described. The number of the guides I29 is adjustable to correspond with the number of strips in a group.

Stripping means for ejecting the partition strips 35 from the clips and dropping them on the conveyor 20, is as follows.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, and '7, the stripper mechanism is actuated by a piston motor I mounted vertically on the bracket 62. The motor piston I26 is connected to a vertical rack bar I21 mounted for vertical reciprocation in a guideway formed in the bracket 62. The rack bar is formed with rack teeth running in mesh with a pinion I28 formed on a shaft I29 journaled in the frames 59. The shaft I29 is also formed with a pinion I36 that runs in mesh with a rack bar I3I mounted for vertical reciprocation in the bracket 62. The pinion I28 is elongated to permit lengthwise movement of the shaft I23 relative to the frame 59 through which it extends, when the frames 59 are adjusted toward or from each other.

Each of the rack bars I 21 and I3I is formed at its lower end with a foot I32 (Figs. 5 to 7) in which is mounted a horizontal stripper bar I33 in position to overlie the strips 35 which have been moved forward to position to be stripped from the clips and dropped to the conveyor 20. Each stripper bar I33 has a dovetail connection with the foot I32 permitting the bar to be slid to an adjusted position corresponding to the number of strips 35 in a set. A spring actuated detent I34 (Fig. '7) is adapted to engage in notches formed in the bar at intervals lengthwise or the bar corresponding to the spacing of the partition strips. A set screw I35 locks the bar in its adjusted position.

Operation The sequence of operations of the several air motors and parts actuated thereby will be understood by reference to the diagram, Fig. 16. Air under pressure is supplied through a pipe I40 and filter I4I to an air pressure tank I 42. A main pressure pipe line I43 extending from the pressure tank supplies air through a branch pipe I44 to a master valve I45 which controls the operation of the motor '42 for actuating the knocker bar 46 and the motor 9'! which drives the clip conveyors. With the valve piston I46 of the master valve in the position shown, air pressure is supplied through the valve and a pipe I41 to the right-hand end of the motor cylinder 91 so that the motor piston has been moved through its idle stroke to the left. Air pressure is also supplied through the master valve and a branch pipe I43 to the lower end of the cylinder 42 so that the knocker bar has been projected upwardly thereby projecting a partition strip 35 upwardly into a clip 40 while the clip conveyor is at rest.

As the knockerbar is completing its upward movement, a. cam I49 carried thereby, operates through an armI50 to open a trip valve ISI. This admits air under pressure through a branch pipe I52, valve I5I and pipe I53 to the left-hand end of the master valve so that the valve piston I46 is moved to the right. This cuts off the air pressure supply to the pipes I41 and I48 and supplies air under pressure through the master valve and a pipe I54 which extends to an interlocking valve I55. The valve I55 is positioned over the rack bar I3I and held open thereby while the strip-per bars arein their lifted position. Air under pressure is thus applied through the pipe I54, valve I55, and the pipe I56 extend ing to the left-hand end of the cylinder 91. Air pressure is also supplied through pipe I56 and a branch pipe I5! to the upper end of the cylinder 42. The shifting of the valve piston I46 to the right, supplying air pressure to the left hand end of the cylinder 3'! and to the upper end of the cylinder 42, at the same time connects the other end of each cylinder to atmosphere by means of ports in the valve casings. The piston 42 is therefore moved downward, carrying with it, the knocker bar while at the same time the motor .91 operates through the pawl and ratchet to ad: vance the clip conveyors one step.

The master valve piston I46 is then moved to the left, and the cycle of operations just described is repeated. This movement of the valve piston is effected by opening a trip valve I58 and supplying air pressure through a pipe I53 to the right-hand end of the master valve. The mechanism for actuating the valve I58 comprises a rock shaft I66 (Figs. 16 and 1'?) to which are attached rock arms I6I carrying a finger bar I62. Trip fingers I63 are mounted on the arm I62 and extend downward into the path of the flight bars 23 or other equivalent actuating devices traveling with the main conveyor 20. As a flight bar advances it lifts the trip fingers in succession thereby rocking the shaft I66 and through a rock arm I64 thereon, opening the valve I58. The number of the trip fingers I63 is equal to the number of the partition strips 35 in a set or group (the machine as shown being adjusted for four strips in a set) so that the number of step movements of the clip carriers effected by each flight bar is equal to said number of strips.

When a set of partition strips has been accumulated at the transfer position over the main conveyor 20, the stripper mechanism is brought into operation. The means for controlling such operation includes a master valve Nit-with a piston I6! which is actuated under the control of trip valves I68 and IE9, While the valve piston I6! is in the position shown, air under pressure is supplied through a pipe I "I9, valve I '66 and pipe IN to the lower end of the cylinder I25 so that the stripper bars are held in'their lifted-position. This position of parts is maintained during the operation of the clip conveyors. The stripper mechanism is set into operation by a flight bar 23 which operates a trip finger II2 connected to a rock shaft I13 carrying a rock arm I14 in position to open the trip valve I68. When the trip valve is opened, air pressure is admitted to the right-hand end of the master valve I66, thereby shifting the valve piston to the left. This cuts off the air pressure supply to the lower end of the stripper cylinder I25 and admits air pressure through a pipe I15 to the upper end of the cylinder so thatv the stripper bars I33 are moved downward and transfer the set of partition strips 35 to the mainconveyor w. The heads of both master valves I45 and I65 are vented throu'gh restricted:openingsvywhichtpermits the release of the trapped airlin either end of the valve body.

As the rack bar :I3I commences its downward movement, it is withdrawn from the interlock valve I55, permitting the latter to close and thereby prevent any operation of the motors 42 and 91 until the stripper bars have again been lifted. As the stripper bars are completing their downward movement, an arm I16 carried by the rack bar I3I, opens the trip valve I69. This admits air from the pressure pipe I43 through a pipe I", valve I69 and a pipe I13 to the lefthand end of the master valve I66, and returns the valve piston to the position shown so that the motor I25 lifts the stripper bars. This completes the cycle of operations.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. The combination of a horizontally disposed carrier mounted to travel horizontally, clips attached to'and depending from the carrier and spaced at intervals along the carrier in the direction of its travel, a support for vertically disposed flat strips of sheet material positioned below said carrier, automatic means for projecting said strips vertically upward from said support into saidclips and thereby suspending the strips from the carrier, a'stop in the path of the strip projecting means to limit the upward movement 1 thereof, a frame carrying said stop, means for adjusting the carrier up and down vertically, and interconnected mechanism between the carrier adjusting means and the'stop carrying frame for automatically adjusting the stop frame and stop vertically simultaneously with adjustment of the carrier, in the same direction and through half thedistance through which the carrier is ad- Justed.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and in combination therewith automatic means for ejecting said strips in groups from the clips.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 and in combination therewith a stripper device comprising an arm extending horizontally over the path of the suspended strips, and automatic means for periodically moving said arms down-- ward and thereby ejecting the said strips in groups from said clips, and means beneath the said arm for receiving, guiding and supporting the ejected strips in spaced relation in an upright position beneath said clips.

4." The combination of means for supporting a pack of flat strips with the strips vertical and on edge, a piston motor comprising a vertically reciprocable-piston, a vertical knocker bar attached to the piston for reciprocation therewith and positioned beneath and at the forward end of said pack, means for actuating said motor and causing'the knocker bar to project the strips upwardly, singly and in succession from the forward end of the pack, a horizontally disposed endless carrier mounted abovethe pack, strip-holding clips connected to said carrier and spaced at intervals lengthwise thereof, said carrier and clips being arranged to travel in a direction perpendicular to the planes of said strips, said clips being brought singly and in succession into a position in register with said knocker bar for receiving the strips as'they are projected upwardly, means for adjusting the carrier vertically, a stop device for limiting the upward movement of the knocker .bar, and interconnecting mechanism between the carrierzand the stop device for adjusting. the stop device vertically relative to the carrier while the latter is'being adjustedvertically,

said'adjustment of the. stop device relative to CPI adjustment of the-carrier and through a shorter distance.

5. The combination of a horizontal conveyor, means for driving the-conveyor in a horizontal direction, an endless clip carrier mounted over and spaced above the conveyor and extending transversely thereof, strip-holding clips attached to said carrier and spaced at regular intervals lengthwise thereof, means for drivini the clip carrier intermitte'ntlystep by step, the length of thestep movements corresponding to the spacing of the clips, automatic means for projecting partitionstrips upwardly into said clips, automatic means for stripping the said partition strips in groupsfrom the clips and dropping them to the conveyor therebeneath', a stop in the path of the strip projecting means in position to limit its upward movement, means for adjusting the carrier upand down, and adjusting means comprising driving connections between the carrier and stop andoperativeto move the stop up or down relative to the carrier when the latter is adjusted up or down, the said relative movement of the stop being in the direction opposite to and through half the distance of the adjustment of the carrier.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, said stripping means comprising a stripper bar positioned over-the path of the partition strips while the latter are advancing with the clip carrier and depending from the clips, and automatic means for periodically moving the stripper bar downwardly in timed relation to the said intermittent step movements of the carrier and after a pre determined number of said step movements, and thereby ejecting groups of the strips from the clips.

7. The combination of a horizontally disposed travelling conveyor, means for driving said conveyor, framework in which the conveyor is mounted, said framework including upright members, horizontal frames mounted on upright members and positioned-over the said conveyor and extending transversely thereof, endless chain clip carriers, strip-holding clips attached to said carriers, clip-carrier frames on which the clip carriers are mounted, means connecting the clipcarrier frames to said transverse frame members, adjusting means for'adjusting the clip carrier frames horizontally toward and from said transverse frame members,-and means for adjusting said frame members up and down and thereby adjusting the clip carrier frames and carriers up and down.

8. The combination of an endless chain clip carrier, clips mounted on said carrier, pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving said carrier intermittently step by step, a piston motor having an operating connection with the pawl and ratchet mechanism, asecond piston motor, means operatedthereby for projecting partition strips singly and in succession from a pack of said strips into said clips, a master valve controlling the operations of said motors, and means for actuating said master valve periodically after a predetermined number of step movements of said carrier.

9. The combination of an endless chain clip carrier, clips mounted on said carrier, pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving said carrier intermittently step by step, a piston motor having an operating connection with the pawl and ratchet mechanism-, a second piston motor, means operated thereby for projecting partition strips singly and in succession from a pack of said strips into said clips, a master valve controlling the operations of said motors, means for actuating said master valve periodically after a predetermined number of step movements of said carrier, stripper mechanism for ejecting the said strips in groups from the clips, a stripper operating motor operatively connected to the stripper mechanism, and interconnected control devices for said motors operable to effect periodic operations of the stripper motor, and a number of operations of the pawl and ratchet motor equal to the number of strips in a said group after each operation of the stripper motor.

10. The combination of a carrier, clips attached to the carrier for holding flat strips of sheet material with the strips projecting outwardly from the clips, means for driving the carrier and bringing the clips in succession to a strip receiving station, means for holding a strip in a predetermined position opposite said station with the strip spaced from and projecting toward a clip at said station, a transfer device comprising means to engage the held strip and move it toward the clip at said station and thereby transferring the strip and positioning it in the clip at said station, a stop device positioned to limit the said movement of the transfer device and of the strip into said clip, means for adjusting the stop device toward and from the carrier, means for simultaneously adjusting the carrier and clips in the opposite direction toward and from said stop device, and interconnected mechanism between said adjusting means for the stop device and the adjusting means for the clip carrier for causing simultaneous adjustment of the carrier and stop device in opposite directions.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein said interconnected mechanism comprises gearing by which the clip carrier is adjusted through double the distance through which the stop device is adjusted.

12. The combination of a clip carrier, a frame in which the clip carrier is mounted for traveling movement, clips attached to said carrier, means for supporting a pack of strips of sheet material in a position spaced from the clip carrier in a direction transverse to that of said traveling movement, automatic means for projecting strips singly and in succession from the pack into the clips, a stop to limit the movement of said projecting means, adjusting mechanism for adjusting the clip carrier frame toward and from the said pack of strips, and interconnected mechanism between the adjusting mechanism and the stop for adjusting the stop relative to the carrier frame and in the direction in which the frame is adjusted, said interconnecting mechanism comprising a rotary shaft mounted in the carrier frame, a rack bar connected to said stop, a pinion running in mesh with the rack bar, and a train of gears forming a driving connection from the said shaft to said pinion, said gearing being arranged and proportioned to move the stop half the distance through which the frame is adjusted.

13. The combination of a horizontally disposed carrier, 9. carrier frame in which the carrier is mounted to travel horizontally, clips attached to and depending from the carrier and spaced at intervals along the carrier in the direction of its travel, a support for a pack of strips of sheet material spaced below the carrier, a knocker bar, means for supporting the knocker bar beneath the said pack, means for reciprocating the knocker bar vertically and causing it to feed strips singly and in succession upwardly into said clips, a stop to limit the upward movement of the knocker bar, means for adjusting the carrier frame up and down vertically, said adjusting means including a shaft journaled for rotation in the carrier frame, a rack bar connected to said stop, a pinion mounted in the carrier frame and running in mesh with the rack bar, and a train of gears connecting said pinion to said shaft, whereby the stop is adjusted relatively to the carrier frame and concurrently with the adjustment of the carrier frame, the gearing being proportioned and arranged to move the stop toward the carrier frame When the latter is adjusted downwardly and away from the carrier frame when the latter is adjusted upwardly, the distance through which the stop is moved relative to the carrier frame being substantially half the distance through which the carrier frame is adjusted.

JULIUS E. WILSKE. JOSEPH P. BENOIT. FRANCIS A. MCCORMICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 831,851 Frain Sept. 25, 1906 1,196,815 Slauson et al Sept. 5, 1916 1,996,812 Jensen et al Apr. 9, 1935 2,221,865 Dauber Nov. 19, 1940 2,296,758 Allen et al Sept. 22, 1942 2,429,007 Wilske Oct. 14, 1947 

